Schmidt Science Polymath Program

Schmidt Science Polymath Program is sponsored by Schmidt Futures. The Schmidt Science Polymath Program empowers intensely creative, early-to-mid-career researchers to explore new research domains, experiment with new methodologies, and inspire impactful scientific breakthroughs.

Schmidt Science Polymaths - Schmidt Sciences Schmidt Science Polymaths Empowering intensely creative, mid-career researchers to take adventurous leaps into new research domains, experiment with new methodologies and ideas, and inspire impactful scientific breakthroughs The Schmidt Science Polymaths Program supports extraordinary researchers with remarkable track records, promising futures, and a desire to expand their research portfolios by exploring a substantive disciplinary or methodological shift soon after achieving tenure.

Each professor will be awarded $500,000 per year, paid through their institution, for up to five years to help support a research group through talent, such as three to four students or postdocs, and resources. These grants are intended to make possible the exploration of new ideas across disciplines, using emerging technologies to test risky theories that may not otherwise receive funding or support.

They are not intended to relieve the researcher of pursuing other grants to continue their mainstream work, nor to be large enough to fully support a modern lab. Schmidt Sciences is seeking exceptional academic researchers from a specific and pivotal period in their career.

In order to be eligible for nomination to the Schmidt Science Polymaths application process, candidates must meet the following qualifications: Have achieved tenure or equivalent status within the past three calendar years Have a remarkable record of accomplishment in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and/or engineering Have a demonstrated history of pursuing and publishing results in more than one field Demonstrate a need for additional funding to enable new experiments, explorations, or shifts in research directions Applications to Schmidt Science Polymaths are by invitation only.

We seek nominations from a select group of leading science, technology, and engineering institutions to identify the highest quality candidates, as well as a broader call for nominations from targeted leaders within the Schmidt Sciences and broader scientific communities.

Eligible nominees will be invited to submit an application, which will include a CV, information about past accomplishments, a description of potential problems or projects they might pursue if they received the award, and a list of references who will be able to speak to their creativity, adventurousness, and likelihood of pursuing exciting and excellent new research directions. Applications are reviewed by a team of experts.

The review is highly selective; fewer than 10% of applicants are selected to receive the award each year. Nominations are typically collected from June to mid-August, applications are due in October, and decisions are shared in April. If you would like for your institution to be considered as a nominating partner or are interested in learning more about the selection process, please reach out to [email protected] .

Georgia Institute of Technology Imperial College London, University of Copenhagen Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Wisconsin-Madison Massachusetts Institute of Technology Technion - Israel Institute of Technology Markita del Carpio Landry University of California, Berkeley Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Imperial College London University of Colorado Boulder California Institute of Technology University College London University of British Columbia University of Texas at Austin University of Colorado Boulder The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Tenure does not exist at my institution.

How do I know who is eligible for this award? We recognize that tenure systems are not universal, and that even among institutions that award tenure there is variation in title and qualifications. We are looking for candidates who have recently reached a level of security, seniority, and permanence in their positions who should have significant academic freedom.

The three-year window is intended to reflect a period of a candidate’s career, not necessarily their position, so eligible candidates should have received tenure or a permanent faculty position for the first time at any institution within the past three years.

At many American research universities, eligible candidates are Associate Professors, though depending on the institution, eligible candidates may range from Senior Lecturers to Professors. Each institution’s practices are unique, and we are happy to work with you and your institution to determine what a suitable tenure equivalency might be at your university.

Please reach out to [email protected] if you have additional eligibility questions. Focusing on the 3 year period after tenure or tenure-equivalency enables the award to reach professors at a time in their careers when academic freedom is maximized but often not fully realized. Academic freedom is directly related to position permanence in this context, and is therefore an important requirement for this award.

Are candidates working in area(s) of medical sciences eligible for the program? Individuals who work solely in a clinical setting or within particular areas of medical sciences are not as competitive as candidates who exhibit track records and a capacity to work across a broader set of research topics and problems in the sciences and/or engineering. Are candidates working in area(s) of social sciences eligible for the program?

Individuals who work primarily in the social sciences are not as competitive as candidates who exhibit track records and capacity to work across a broader set of research topics and problems in the sciences and/or engineering. I received tenure more than three years ago. Can I be considered for this award?

The program is intended for faculty who are within three years of achieving tenure for the first time. Individuals tenured more than three years ago at one institution who have recently been granted tenure at a new institution are not eligible. Candidates who have received tenure at multiple institutions are eligible only if all tenured appointments were granted within the last three calendar years.

See the next question for special considerations, such as family or medical leaves. Do you consider leave (i.e. family leave, medical leave) when determining eligibility? The three year eligibility window is intended to offer eligibility flexibility.

We may consider exceptions to this policy with appropriate justification. Nominators considering candidates with significant career interruptions should reach out to [email protected] . How can I be nominated for the Schmidt Science Polymath Award?

We seek nominations from a select group of leading science, technology, and engineering institutions from around the world to identify the highest quality candidates, as well as a broader call for nominations from targeted leaders within the Schmidt Sciences and broader scientific communities. No, candidates cannot self-nominate. Is my institution eligible to nominate candidates for this award?

We are continually evaluating our nominating partners, periodically and new institutions. Interested candidates and institutions may reach out to [email protected] to confirm institutional eligibility. How can my institution become a nominating partner?

We are continually evaluating our nominating partners, periodically adding new institutions. Institutions wishing to become nominating partners will need to submit an interest form with details on the institution’s tenure or equivalent policy as well as information on the institution’s fitness for this award. Interested institutions may reach out to [email protected] regarding the process of becoming a partner.

Will all nominees be invited to apply? No, not all nominated individuals will be invited to apply. The Schmidt Science Polymath Team will review all nominated individuals to check for eligibility (tenure/equivalent status and date, research areas).

We then will follow up with all eligible nominated individuals with instructions on how to apply. Can candidates be nominated and/or apply more than once? Is there a limit on the number of times a candidate can be nominated and/or apply?

Candidates may be nominated and apply more than once. Candidates may only be nominated during the tenure eligibility window. Candidates who have previously applied are strongly encouraged to revisit their application and should not submit the exact same materials as were submitted in the past.

In particular, we advise re-applicants to focus on the core application questions, including their proposed projects or problems. Please note that we do not provide specific candidate feedback. Do I need to include a budget for the proposed projects?

No, you are not required to submit a budget as part of your application for your proposed projects/problems. The Polymaths application is intended to be a space for you to showcase potential new research directions and your creativity as a scientist. Polymath awardees are not bound to pursue the projects proposed in their applications.

Are citations/references in the application included in the word count? Citations do not count toward the word limit. Who can serve as a reference for my application?

References should know you or your work well enough to testify not just to your accomplishments, but also your creativity, adventurousness, and the likelihood you will pursue excellent new directions in research given flexible resources. References may include past advisors and/or collaborators. Will you provide feedback on my application?

We do not provide specific candidate feedback. Can we include figures/schematics on our proposed areas? Yes, you may include up to two figures in your application.

We recommend that the use of figures/schematics be limited, and used only in cases where inclusion will significantly enhance your application reviewer’s understanding of your work. What are the reporting requirements for Schmidt Science Polymath Awardees? Polymaths are expected to complete a report each year for the duration of their time as Awardees.

The report includes a financial accounting of funds spent; a narrative report detailing successes, failures, and future plans; a list of outputs; and other information about Polymath-funded work. In addition to the annual report, Polymath Awardees are expected to meet with the Schmidt Science Polymath team virtually approximately once per quarter. Polymaths are invited to attend an in-person convening 1-2 times per year.

Polymaths will have a mid-term and a final review. Does this award allow indirect costs? The Schmidt Science Polymath Award is expected to be processed as a grant to a university to provide general support for an awardee’s research.

The grant is not associated with specific project details or outcomes, but is intended to be used at the discretion of the awardee as part of the Polymaths program. As a result, we anticipate reporting to come directly from the grantee, with minimal (if any) assistance from the university, and so we expect that no indirect costs will be taken from the award.

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